Tierra Amarilla, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tierra Amarilla, Rio Arriba County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tierra Amarilla?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 34 days in the Far Northwest Highlands forecast zone and Rio Arriba County — the most common reported hazard around Tierra Amarilla, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (18 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 34 | Aug 2025 | Aug 15, 2006 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Jun 2024 | Aug 3, 2017 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Aug 2015 | Aug 1, 2015 · 1 death · $3,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | May 2023 | May 2, 2023 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | May 2021 | — |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Far Northwest Highlands forecast zone and Rio Arriba County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tierra Amarilla get?
A normal year brings about 75 inches of snow to Tierra Amarilla, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tierra Amarilla 4 N weather station 4.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (17.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 8.4 | 15.0 | 17.7 | 15.3 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Tierra Amarilla?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 108 miles south. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Tierra Amarilla | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 108 mi south | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 178 mi northeast | 24,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 186 mi north-northwest | 25,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Tierra Amarilla
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tierra Amarilla. The strongest was an EF1 on September 29, 2014, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on September 17, 2024.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Tierra Amarilla's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tierra Amarilla radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tierra Amarilla, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 108 miles south. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 178 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tierra Amarilla?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tierra Amarilla the lowest scan from KABX is about 10,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Tierra Amarilla free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Tierra Amarilla, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Questa, NM radar 54 mi
- Española, NM radar 56 mi
- Taos, NM radar 59 mi